Texans 20 vs 16 Chargers summary, stats, score and highlights | NFL Week 17 2025

The Texans would close out the game with this 44 yard field goal from Fairbairn which put them up two scores with 6:30 to go. The Texans defense held LA in check the rest of the way and they punched their ticket to the playoffs. Now they will try and steal the AFC South from Jacksonville while the Chargers chances at a one seed came to an end in LA. 

The Chargers took 45 minutes to get into the end zone but Oronde Gadsden finally punched the ball over the goal line for a TD to make it a game with 15 minutes to go. 

Cameron Dicker is the most accurate kicker in NFL history, but he missed this 32 yard field goal, which would take the wind out of LA's sails heading into the break. 

Stroud got picked off again, and gave the Chargers a chance to put points on the board but the chance would slip through their fingers. 

The Chargers were driving again, and looking to close it to one score game, but this pass from Justin Herbert was tipped by Gadsden and picked off by Azeez Al-Shaair. Herbert got roughed up, getting sacked 5 times on a day that nothing really went his way or the way of the Chargers. 

The Texans were in full command, but late in the 2nd quarter Stroud was picked off by Derwin James and it looked like the tides were going to turn in LA, but they had to settle for a field goal. 

Houston ran 7 plays in the first five minutes of the game and had a 14-0 lead after CJ Stroud hit Jaylin Noel with this 43 yard TD pitch and catch. Stroud had 244 yards and 2 TDs on 16/28 but he would cool down for the rest of the way. 

The Houston Texans officially clinched a playoff birth with their win in Los Angeles against a Chargers team that was in the running for the one seed in the AFC, until today. 

CJ Stroud came out hot, connecting on a couple of deep balls that set the tone for the rest of the game. Stroud hit Jayden Higgins with a 75 yard bomb on the third play of the game. 

IT'S ALL OVER!!!

The Houston Texans win it in LA and officially book their ticket to the postseason!!

Marks up the middle and he takes it fo 2 yards and a first down!!!

1st and 10 and the Texans can kneel out the clock!!!

WE ARE AT THE TWO MINUTE WARNING FROM LA!!!

Marks up the middle and he picks up 8 yards. 

2nd and 2 from the LA 41. 

Stroud was sacked by Oweh but a flag flies for illegal contact on LA!!!

1st down HOU and this game might just be over. 

Maks to the right side and he picks up 3 yards. 

3rd and 9 from the HOU 46. Timeout LA with 2:32 to go, their final TO. 

Maks to the right side and he picks up 3 yards. 

3rd and 9 from the HOU 46. 

Marks is stopped for a loss of 2 yards by Caldwell. 

2nd and 12 from the HOU 43.

Stroud over the middle for Collins and he reels it in for a gain of 19 yards!!

1st and 10 from the HOU 45. 

HOU get the ball from their 26 and Marks is stopped for no gain. 

2nd and 10 from the HOU 26 and LA take a timeout with 3:28. 

Hampton makes it a game, but Dicker's missed PAT kills the Chargers. 

TOUCHDOWN CHARGERS!!!

Hampton up the middle and he takes it into the end zone on a 5 yard TD rush!!!

Dicker missed the PAT and it's now a 4 point game!!!

HOU lead 20-16 with 3:37 to go. 

Herbert to the right side for McConkey and that pass was too far out in front of him. 

2nd and Goal from the 5. 

Herbert rolls right and gets sacked but a defensive holding is going to give LA a first down. 

1st and Goal from the 5. 

Herbert looking for the back shoulder fade to Allen but that pass was just behind him. 

2nd and Goal from the 10. 

Herbert to the left side for Gadsden and he makes the catch for a gain of 25!

1st and Goal from the 10. 

Herbert was sacked by Hunter but and illegal contact on HOU will give LA a first down. 

1st and 10 from the HOU 5. 

Herbert finds Hampton to the right side for a short gain of 2 yards. 

3rd and 6 from the HOU 40. 

Herbert tucks it and takes it to the left side for a gain of 2. 

2nd and 8 from the HOU 42. 

LA get the ball from the 25 and Herbert finds McConkey down the left sideline for a big gain of 31!

1st and 10 from the HOU 44. 

FIELD GOAL!!!

Fairbairn drills the 44 yard field goal to put HOU up two scores. 

HOU lead 20-10 with 6:30 to go. 

Stroud's pass to Noel on the left side is behind the WR and the FG unit will come on. 

4th and 5 from the LA 26. 

Jordan to the right side and he picks up 9 yards after turning the edge. 

3rd and 5 from the LA 26. 

Marks is stuffed by Mack for a loss of 4 on the handoff. 

2nd and 14 from the LA 35. 

Marks picks up a yard but an offside on LA will give HOU a first down. 

1st and 10 from the LA 1. 

Marks up the middle and he takes it for 7 yards on first down. 

2nd and 7 from the LA 36. 

Marks moves the chains on a 3 yard run to the right side. 

1st and 10 from the LA 43. 

HOU get the ball from their 45 and Marks takes it up the middle for a gain of 9 yards. 

2nd and 1 from the LA 46. 

Herbert finds Hampton over the middle but he is taken down after a gain of a yard. 

4th and 8 from the LA 21 and LA will punt with 10:30 to go. 

Herbert looking for Lambert-Smith on the comeback route and that pass was behind the WR. 

3rd and 9 from the LA 20. 

Patterson to the left side and he gets a yard. 

2nd and 9 from the LA 21. 

Herbert steps up in the pocket and slings it over to Dissly in the flat and he takes it for 18 yards. 

1st and 10 from the LA 20. 

Herbert goes deep for Johnston but that pass was overthrown!

3rd and 11 from the 1. 

Great punt from HOU and that leaves LA at their 1. 

Hebert finds Hampton in the flat but he was taken down right next to the goal line. 

2nd and 11 from the LA 1. 

Stroud looks for Collins on the left sideline but that pass sails out of bounds!

4th and 7 from the HOU 46 and they will punt. 

Stroud on the roll out and he finds Schultz who is wrapped up for no gain. 

3rd and 7 from the HOU 46. 

Marks up the middle for a gain of 3 yards. 

2nd and 7 from the HOU 46. 

Stroud lets it loose for Noel down the left side but that pass was too far out in front of the WR but a flag flies for roughing the passer on Henley!

1st and 10 from the HOU 43. 

Stroud takes a shot down the right sideline but that pass to Hutchinson sails out of bounds. 

3rd and 7 from the HOU 28. 

WE ARE AT THE END OF THE THIRD QUARTER FROM LA!!!

LA get the ball back from their 25 and Jordan takes it for 3 yards on the right side. 

2nd and 7 from the HOU 28. 

It took almost 45 minutes but the Chargers are in the end zone and have a chance to win this in the 4th quarter. Herbert had a huge drive in a critical situation and hit Gadsden with the TD. 

Hampton up the middle and he picks up 3 yards. 

2nd and Goal from the 1. 

Herbert was wrapped up in the backfield but he stays on his feet and throws it to Johnston for a pick up of 8 yards. 

1st and Goal from the 4. 

Herbert rolls to the right side for Gadsden and he looked for Gadsden in the end zone but Lassiter almost made the pick. 

3rd and 6 from the HOU 12. 

Herbert swings it out to Hampton and he takes it for four yards on the left side. 

2nd and 6 from the HOU 12. 

Herbert tucks it and takes it for a big gain of 28 yards and a first down!!!

1st and 10 from the HOU 16. 

Herbert fumbled the handoff to Hampton and had to fall on it for a loss of 4 yards. 

3rd and 14 from the HOU 44. 

Herbert to the left side for Johnston down the sideline but that pass was a little too high for the WR. 

2nd and 10 from the HOU 44. 

Herbert steps up in the pocket and finds Allen over the middle for a gain of 17 yards and a first down. 

1st and 10 from the HOU 40. 

Hampton to the right side and he is stopped for no gain. 

3rd and 3 from the LA 43. 

Herbert is sacked again, this time by To'oTo'o but a defensive offside is going to nullify that play. 

2nd and 2 from the LA 43. 

LA get the ball back from their 36 and Herbert scrambles up the middle for a gain of yards. 

2nd and 7 from the LA 39. 

FIELD GOAL!!!

Fairbairn drills the 41 yard field goal to put HOU up 2 TDs again. 

HOU lead 18-3 with 6:00 to go in the 3rd quarter. 

Stroud finds Hutchinson on the right side for a gain of 10 to make the field goal a little more manageable. 

4th and 13 from the LA 23. 

Stroud looking for Kirk in the flat but that screen pass was sniffed out by LA. 

3rd and 23 from the LA 33. 

Marks is brought down in the backfield for a loss of a yard. 

2nd and 19 from the LA 29. 

Noel on the jet sweep for 9 yards but a holding call is going to bring that play back. 

1st and 20 from the LA 30. 

Stroud connects with Collins on a roll out to the right side and he takes it for a gain of 2 yards. 

1st and 10 from the LA 20. 

HOU get the ball from the LA 47 and Marks takes it to the left side for a gain of 4 yards. 

2nd and 6 from the LA 43. 

Screen pass set up for Hampton who picks up 7 yards but is well short of the first down. 

4th and 15 from the LA 25 and they will punt with 9:45 to go in the 3rd quarter. 

Herbert gets sacked again, this time by Barnett for a loss of 7. 

3rd and 22 from the LA 18. 

LA get the ball from their 30 and Herbert is sacked for a loss of 5 yards after the pocket collapsed. 

2nd and 15 from the LA 25. 

Stroud's pass to the left side for Kirk is batted away by Dye and HOU will punt. 

4th and 4 from the HOU 21. 

Stroud found Schultz in the flat and he took it for a first down, but the ball was knocked out of his hands and rolled out of bounds four yards short of the marker. 

3rd and 4 from the HOU 21. 

HOU get the ball back from their 15 and Jordan is stopped for no gain. 

2nd and 10 from the HOU 15. 

Herbert makes a move in the pocket and he finds Gadsden who had the ball in his hands but had it knocked out of his hands. 

4th and 4 from the LA 41 and they will punt. 

Hampton up the middle and he is dropped for a loss of 1 by Anderson. 

3rd and 4 from the LA 41. 

LA get the ball to start the half, and they get the ball from their 35. 

Herbert drops back and tucks it for a gain of 7 yards to start the drive. 

2nd and 3 from the LA 42. 

WE ARE BACK IN LA FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!!!

The LA defense came up with another big play as Molden jumped in front of this pass from Stroud and picked it off with under 50 seconds to go in the half. Stroud had a great first two drives but he has cooled down since. 

He's 10/18 fo 185 yards and two TDs with 2 INTs. 

The Chargers were on the verge of scoring again after a big pass play from Herbert to Johnston but then his pass to Gadsden hit off the WRs hands and a pass that could have been a TD turned into a pick by Al-Shaair. Herbert has 123 yards and this pick of 10/14 passing. 

Just when it seemed like the Texans might pull away with this one, James comes up with a big pick to give LA some life late in the 2nd quarter. LA had to settle for a field goal but they got on the board. 

The Texans doubled their lead with another deep ball, this time to Noel for the TD. They had 14 points in their first 7 plays and had a two TD lead five minutes into the game. 

The Texans started this game off with a bang as Stroud hit Higgins with a 75 yard TD bomb to get the visitors up early on. 

WE ARE HEADING TO THE HALFTIME BREAK FROM LA!!!

MISSED FIELD GOAL!!!

Dicker missed the 32 yard field goal wide right!!!!

HOU keep their 14-3 lead with 14 to go. 

Herbert finds Dissly on the right side and he runs out of bounds after a gain of 1. 

4th and 13 from the HOU 14. 

Herbert to the left side for Johnston for a short gain of 3. Timeout LA with 19 to go in the half. 

3rd and 14 from the HOU 15. 

Herbert tried to escape the pocket and lost the ball but jumped on it for a loss of 5 yards. Timeout LA with 25 to go. 

2nd and 17 from the HOU 18. 

Herbert was taken dow by Autry but a late flag flies and it's going to be a tripping flag on Autry!

1st and 10 from the 11. 

Hebert finds Johnston on the out route to the left side for a gain of 11 and he gets out of bounds with 40 to go. 

1st and 10 from the HOU 21. 

INTERCEPTION!!!

Stoud goes over the middle fo Kirk and that pass is picked off by Molden!!!

1st and 10 from the LA 32 with 45 to go. 

Stroud to the left side for Schultz who couldn't make the short catch. 

2nd and 10 from the HOU 22. 

LA was coming off a big play after Herbert found Johnston for 60 yards, but then Gadsden had the pass hit off his hands and saw it picked by Al-Shaair. 

Marks to the left side and he finds a hole and takes it for 19 yards to give HOU some life before the half. 

1st and 10 from the HOU 22. 

Stroud on the QB keeper and he picks up 2 yards. 

2nd and 8 from the HOU 3. 

INTERCEPTION!!!

Herbert over the middle for Gadsden who had it hit off his hands, pop up and get picked by Al-Shaair at the 1!

1st and 10 HOU from their 1. 

Herbert looks to the left side for Johnston who reels it in and takes it for 60 yards!!!

1st and 10 from the HOU 14. 

Herbert tucks it and takes it to the left side where he is pushed out of bounds after a gain of 2. 

3rd and 13 from the LA 26. 

WE ARE HEADING TO THE TWO MINUTE WARNING FROM LA!!!

Herbert flips a pass to Johnston on the pitch play but that was blown up for a loss of 5 yards. 

2nd and 15 from the LA 24. 

LA get the ball back from their 13 and Herbert finds Johnston on the left side for a gain of 16 to start the drive. 

1st and 10 from the LA 29. 

Stroud goes deep down the left side for Marks and that pass was behind the RB on the wheel route. 

4th and 4 from the HOU 35 and they will punt with 3:25 to go. 

Stroud finds Noel with quick a pass to the left side and he picks up 8 yards. 

3rd and 4 from the 35. 

Marks is dropped in the backfield for a loss of a couple yards by Jefferson. 

2nd and 8 from the HOU 35. 

Jordan to the right side and he finds a hole for a gain of 10 yards. 

1st and 10 from the HOU 37. 

HOU get the ball back from their 23, and Jordan takes it up the middle for a gain of 4 yards. 

2nd and 6 from the HOU 27. 

FIELD GOAL!!!

Dicker drills the 27 yard field goal to put the Chargers on the board. 

It's 14-3 Houston with 6:10 to go in the half. 

Herbert rolls to the right side and he had to throw it away in the back of the end zone with nothing open. 

4th and 4 from the HOU 9. 

Hampton is brought down for a loss of 1 on the run to the left side. 

3rd and 4 from the HOU 9. 

Just when everything seemed to be going right for HOU, Stroud's pass gets tipped and picked by James to bring a big momentum swing to the Chargers. 

Harris on the end around and he takes it to the left side for a gain of 7. 

2nd and 3 from the HOU 8. 

Screen pass set up for Hampton on the left side and he takes it for 17 yards and a first down!

1st and 10 from the HOU 15. 

Hampton up the middle and he picks up 5 yards to start the drive. 

2nd and 5 from the HOU 32. 

INTERCEPTION!!!

Stroud looks left and his pass is tipped at the line and picked off by James!!!

LA ball at the HOU 37!!!

Stroud rolls to the right side and he just throws that ball away!

3rd and 5 from the HOU 41. 

HOU get the ball back from their 36 and Marks picks up 5 yards on the first down run up the middle. 

2nd and 5 from the HOU 41. 

Herbert checks down to Gadsden on the right side but he can only get 6 yards. 

4th and 3 from the LA 15 and LA will punt again with under 10:00 to go in the first half.  

Herbert's pass to Johnston on the right side is tipped and almost picked by Stingley. 

3rd and 9 from the LA 15. 

LA get the ball from their 9 and Hampton is taken down after a gain of 1 on the left side. 

2nd and 9 from the LA 10. 

Screen pass set up for Marks and he dropped after a short gain of 4. 

HOU will punt on 4th and long from the HOU 48. 

Stroud finds Schultz for a gain of 8 yards but he was flagged for unnecessary roughness after the play. 

3rd and 17 from the HOU 44. 

Jordan up the middle and he is dropped at the line of scrimmage. 

2nd and 10 from the LA 49. 

Hutchinson to the left side and he picks up 8 yards and a first down. 

1st and 10 from the LA 49. 

Jordan takes the handoff to the left side and he picks up 8 yards. 

2nd and 2 from the HOU 43. 

Stroud finds Colls on the right side and he takes it for a big gain of 15. 

1st and 10 from the HOU 35. 

HOU get the ball back from their 17 and Marks picks up 3 yards on the first down run to the right side. 

2nd and 7 from the HOU 20. 

Hebert looking for Allen on the slant at the sticks and that pass hits off his hands and falls incomplete. 

4th and 4 from the LA 24 and LA will punt with 46 seconds to go in the first quarter. 

Hampton to the right side and he is stopped for no gain. 

3rd and 4 from the LA 24. 

LA get the ball back from their 18 and Herbert finds Hampton on the left side for a gain of 6 yards out of the backfield. 

2nd and 4 from the LA 24. 

Stroud rolls to the right side he just had to throw it away under pressure 

4th and 9 from the HOU 33 and HOU will punt with 2:15 to go in the first quarter. 

Stroud goes deep down the left side for Higgins but that pass is well under thrown. 

3rd and 9 from the HOU 33. 

Chubb up the right side and he gets a yard on first down. 

2nd and 9 from th HOU 33. 

Out route from Kirk and Stroud hit him for a gain of 5 yards. 

1st and 10 from the HOU 32. 

Jordan up the middle and he picks up 2 yards to bring up 3rd and medium. 

3rd and 4 from the HOU 27. 

HOU get the ball back from their 21 and Stroud hits Noel with a short pass of 4 yards on the left side. 

2nd and 6 from the HOU 25. 

Herrbert gets dropped by Rankins and Anderson on another third down sack for a loss of 6 yards 

4th and 11 from the LA 40 and LA will punt again. 

Hampton up the middle and he is met at the line by To'oTo'o for no gain. 

3rd and 5 rom the LA 46. 

Hampton up the right side and he picks up 5 yards on first down. 

2nd and 5 from the LA 46. 

Play action from Herbert and he slips a short pass to Harris for a nice gain of 8 yards on the left side and a first down. 

1st and 10 from the LA 41. 

Hampton to the left side and he picks up another 3 yards. 

3rd and 3 from the LA 33. 

LA get the ball back from their 26 and Hampton takes it to the right side for a gain of 4 yards. 

2nd and 6 from the LA 30 

The Texans have run seven plays and lead 14-0. Stroud hits Noel for a 43 yard TD bomb and they are in complete control. 

Stroud hits Hutchinson on the left side off the play fake and he turns and takes it for 11 yards and a first down. 

1st and 10 from the LA 43. 

Marks up the middle and he picks up 5 yards. 

2nd and 5 from the HOU 46. 

HOU get the ball from their 28 and Stroud finds Higgins on the right side for a nice gain of 13 yards on the skinny post. 

1st and 10 from the HOU 41. 

Herbert is dropped in the backfield for a loss of 9 yards by Hunter and LA go three and out to start the day. 

4th and long from the LA 31. 

Hampton up the middle on the draw and he picks up 3 yards. 

3rd and 5 from the LA 31. 

LAC get the ball from their 35 and Hampton takes it for a short gain of 2 yards on the left side. 

2nd and 8 from the LA 37. 

Houston wasted no time getting into the end zone. Stroud hits Higgins on a 75 yard bomb to open up the scoring on the third play of the game!!!

Mark to the left side and he picks up 4 yards to bring up 3rd and short. 

3rd and 1 from the HOU 25. 

HOU get the ball to start the day and they get the ball from their 16. 

Marks gets the handoff to the right side and he picks up 5 yards. 

2nd and 5 from the HOU 21. 

WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM LOS ANGELES!!!

What's next: Chargers

The Chargers are going to have a tough last couple games to close out the season. They have the Texans today and then they have a division showdown in Denver that could very well decide who wins the AFC West and the one seed in the conference. They know they need to win tonight to have any chance of home field throughout the playoffs. 

What's next: Texans

The Texans have this massive matchup tonight against the Chargers and then they are going to have to shift their focus to their Week 18 game against the Indianapolis Colts. They will have to win out and hope that the Jags drop their next two games against the Colts and the Titans. 

AFC STANDINGS 

Taking a look at the standings in the AFC, we see the Broncos are at the top of the conference with a 12-3 record. They have the tie break on the New England Patriots who have the same record, and are a game up on the Chargers in the AFC West. The Bills are in the mix for the one seed as well at 11-4, just like the Jaguars who are leading the Houston Texans by a game. It’s going to be a mad scramble for the one seed in the finish line and it starts tonight from LA. 

Chargers star watch 

In his second year under Jim Harbaugh, Justin Herbert has the Chargers in position to make a deep run to the playoffs. His numbers aren't going to put him in the MVP conversation, with 3,491 yards, 25 TDs and 12 INTs but he makes big plays in big moments. We saw it in the opening game of the season from Sao Paolo and we have seen it plenty of times since. These are the games that Chargers fans want to see Herbert show up and play his best football, and he’s going to have a chance to prove himself on the national stage. 

Texans star watch 

It's been a strange season for CJ Stroud. Him and the offense failed to score 20 points in the first three games of the season and lost all three of those games. He got injured in Week 10 ad would miss three games but Davis Mills came in and straightened out the ship with three straight wins. That started their current win streak and when Stroud came back he kept is going with four straight wins. In those four games he has five TDs and just one INT but his season numbers aren’t anything that will knock your socks off. He has 2,628 yards with 16 TDs and just 6 INTs. This is a playoff type game, and we have seen Stroud step up in playoff type atmospheres. 

Chargers last game 

LA went to Dallas and Justin Herbert was had a near perfect game against the Cowboys defense. He went 23/29 with two TDs which both came in the first half. Herbert would run a TD in right before the halftime break to put the Chargers up 21-17. LA's defense would step up and shut down the Cowboys in the 2nd half, and Omarion Hamtpon sealed the game for LA on a five yard TD rush to put the Chargers up 34-17 with just a few minutes left in the 4th quarter. 

Texans last game  

The Texans rattled off their seventh straight win last week as they just barley beat the Las Vegas Raiders from Houston. It looked like Houston was going to roll early in the first quarter when Derek Stingley Jr. took a Geno Smith interception back for a TD, but the Raiders would bounce back and take a 14-13 lead in the 3rd quarter. Houston would kick a field goal and then take the lead with CJ Stroud's only TD pass of the game. He hit Dalton Schultz midway through the 4th quarter to put HOU up 23-14. LV would tighten the game up with a TD a couple minutes later, but the Texans would get the ball back and drain the clock with a couple of first downs to close the door on the Raiders. 

We are live from LA 

Hello everyone and welcome to Sofi Stadium where the Chargers are back home and on a four game win streak that has put them in the playoffs, and now they have a chance to win the AFC West, and an outside chance to earn the one seed heading into the postseason. The Texans are in the playoffs, and just a game back of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South, so they know they have to keep winning if thy are going to have a shot at the division title. 

Texans vs. Chargers live 

We have a Saturday afternoon showdown from Los Angeles as two playoff teams look to keep winning and keep rising up the AFC standings. It's the Los Angeles Chargers hosting the Houston Texans from Sofi Stadium, and AS English will be with you all day providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of this Week 17 rumble from the City of Angels.